These 7 African Trailblazers Will Be Speaking at TEDGlobal 2017 in Tanzania – OkayAfricaTANZANIA—Last month we were excited to share the 10 African innovators among the new class of TED Fellows in anticipation of the TEDGlobal Conference 2017 in Arusha, Tanzania this August.

Today, TED has announced a shortlist of speakers who will grace the TED stage in Arusha. For curator Emeka Okafor, the speakers are a group of people with “fresh, unique perspectives in their initiatives, pronouncements and work.”

“Africa has an opportunity to reframe the future of work, cultural production, entrepreneurship, agribusiness. We are witnessing the emergence of new educational and civic models. But there is, on the flip side, a set of looming challenges that include the youth bulge and under-/unemployment, a food crisis, a risky dependency on commodities, slow industrializations, fledgling and fragile political systems. There is a need for a greater sense of urgency.”

Ten years on, TEDGlobal returns to Africa. Since our 2007 conference in Arusha, Tanzania, the continent has experienced spectacular economic, demographic and creative growth, and has made exciting progress toward its rightful place in the world. Yet many African nations are beset by challenges. And the stakes have never been higher. As populations continue to surge, both opportunity and danger are rising.

At TEDGlobal 2017, we’ll bring together an incredible group of speakers who can collectively help shape how this plays out. Dreamers and doers. Technologists and entrepreneurs. Business leaders and creatives. The event ten years ago felt like history in the making. The ideas and connections forged then have had untold impact. We want to reignite those sparks and invite anyone passionate about the future of Africa, and the future of the world to come and be part of something special. TEDGlobal2017: “Builders. Truth-Tellers. Catalysts.” (Website)